What's best?

[SoSheOhPathix]

So, you clever doods (clearly, this is not directed at Paul :ras: ):

I just got me a shiny new 22' WS monitor to go with the shiny new PC.
What is the best resolution and aspect ratio for gaming? (Let's be honest. That's basically all I ever use the home PC for)
I've tried a few I found in the NVidia control panel thingy, but they all look weird to me. But then, I'm used to the 19' CRT super-duper heavyweight square box monitor, so it may just be a matter of acclimatisation

[J_Th4ng]

Nice one Jules!! WS is definitely the way to go nowadays, almost all games released will have native WS support.

Ideally, one should run everything at the native resolution of your monitor. Unlike CRT screens, the resolution of an LCD is the physical number of pixels making up the screen, so running at any other resolution means that the screen has to interpolate pixels, which will result in a rather blurry image.

The native res for pretty much any 22" WS monitor is 1680x1050. You should endeavour therefore to run everything at that res. As far as aspect ratios go, that's a 16:10 aspect ratio. Slightly different to widescreen TV, which is 16:9.

I assume that with your new PC, you can run this resolution easily for any game? In fact, I'd love to know what's in your new box, how about posting a thread about it in the Hardware section?

[SoSheOhPathix]

Next question.

What's the best 5.1 headset?
I have an X-Fi card now, so I may as well get a good set for playing late at night, instead of the USB sets I've been using up till now.

There are a gazillion different ones on the web, but everyone claims theirs is the bestestest ever, and I have long since stopped believeing the shit people spout about their own products.

[SlipperyDuck]

All the 5.1 headsets have completely different sounds.

My ZALMAN 5.1's were great, that is until i bought the Roccat KAVE 5.1's

Now the Roccat Kave 5.1's have the best Surround sound accuracy I have EVER HEARD!!!!!

Initiall, with ANY (all of them in fact) 5.1 headset, you're be upset with hollow sound as apposed to the normal stereo headset you may have.
Initially this sounds cheap n nasty, but, after a while you'll realise why. The Hollow sound is ambient sound from all directions...like the real world -- almost.

Go search for reviews on teh Roccat Kave 5.1's. . . .I've never heard of a 5.1 headset this good... I think it's number 1 for 5.1 setup.

[J_Th4ng]

Next question.

What's the best 5.1 headset?
I have an X-Fi card now, so I may as well get a good set for playing late at night, instead of the USB sets I've been using up till now.

There are a gazillion different ones on the web, but everyone claims theirs is the bestestest ever, and I have long since stopped believeing the shit people spout about their own products.


The first thing to be aware of is that any USB headset will not be utilising your X-Fi card at all. USB headsets have built-in audio processors which do their own sound decoding and processing. If you want to get the benefits of X-Fi, you need to get one that connects directly to the sound card – in the case of 5.1, it’ll have numerous jacks for front, back, middle etc.
I personally do not like 5.1 headsets. I don’t find that they add much immersion to games, and the positional audio is passable at best. I far prefer a headset that has high quality sound reproduction capability in stereo. That’s just my experience though, some people swear by 5.1 headsets – note though that a lot of these people won’t have X-Fi sound cards.
One thing to consider is that the power of the X-Fi card is in it’s ability to apply post processing to sound (through EAX) and also to provide positional audio. X-Fi has a functionality called CMSS-3D, which provides positional audio through stereo headphones. I have used it for a couple of years before now (pulled my X-Fi card about a week ago), and have found the positional audio to be very good indeed. Having said that, I do have a good pair of Sennheiser headphones.

For advice on 5.1 headsets, I’m sure someone will post here. However, if you are looking for a very good pair of stereo phones, you can’t do better than Sennheiser. The best Headset available right now is the PC-350, and it’s awesome. Scorp has a pair which I tested at rAge, and they are wicked!! They are pricey, but if you want a brilliant set that you can wear all night without discomfort, these are what you want. You can get them from Prophecy, who currently have a 15% off sale on all Sennheiser products: http://www.prophecy.co.za/sennheiser-pc350-headset-p-28461.html

Hmmm, I may just buy myself a set of those... :hmmm:

EDIT: Just thought, some other stuff to consider.

I don’t know what OS your new rig is running, but it will make quite a difference to you when thinking of your sound card’s capabilities.

With DirectX 10, MS removed DirectSound from the included API’s. This means that EAX is no longer functional natively under Vista or Windows 7. In order to get the benefit of EAX in games, you’ll need to download an application called ‘Alchemy’ from Creative labs. This has profiles for a number of games, and enables EAX sound effects within these games. New versions of Alchemy are released periodically, with support for new games that are released. This was in fact one of the reasons that I chose to go with the ASUS Xonar ST as my replacement card, because they have built new APIs that are not DirectSound linked, and thus work in all games.

This does not however affect positional sound on stereo headsets. CMSS3D will work regardless of EAX availability.

BW, another request. Would still like to read the rundown on your new PC. What parts has your system builder put in there? I’m sure it must be an awesome rig!

[SlipperyDuck]

Jarrod, I wish there was someone in Capetown that could Demo the Roccat Kave 5.1 headset to you. They use your X-fi, the full 3 X 3.5mm front-rear-center connectors, with a USB port for the in-line controller, which has adjustments for the front, center, rear, bass and volume.

You say you don't believe 5.1 headsets add to the immersion...thay may have been true in the past. This headset sets the new standard, I'm astounded by the detail and accuracy and JUST HOW MUCH it DOES add to the game....

Any Kaapies got roccat kaves to show our grand dictator?

[J_Th4ng]

Jarrod, I wish there was someone in Capetown that could Demo the Roccat Kave 5.1 headset to you. They use your X-fi, the full 3 X 3.5mm front-rear-center connectors, with a USB port for the in-line controller, which has adjustments for the front, center, rear, bass and volume.

You say you don't believe 5.1 headsets add to the immersion...thay may have been true in the past. This headset sets the new standard, I'm astounded by the detail and accuracy and JUST HOW MUCH it DOES add to the game....

Any Kaapies got roccat kaves to show our grand dictator?


I would certainly be keen to hear what these bins sound like, bacause I'd certainly like to find some 5.1 headphones that actually did the job. The last ones I heard were the razer megadolons (or summt like that) that Dazzie bought recently, and I must be honest I preferred my Sennies with EAX and CMSS-3D. And this is supposed to be a top notch 5.1 headset...

All this being said, it may be a moot point for me. My new Xonar Essence ST card is actually designed for stereo headphone output, to the extent that is has a built in headphone amp. It does do 5.1 sound output, but only through a digital connection (at this stage; there will be an H6 add-on card in the future for analogue multichannel sound).

If anyone has a pair of these paired with an X-Fi card though, I'd be very interested to hear it. If anyone could convince me with regards to audio quality, it'll be you Lee. Until I hear it for myself though, I remain sceptical of the benefit of 5.1 support over high qality stereo phones (when connected to a good sound card).

[Megageth]

Sheesh, good timing, I am looking for a new headset. See these Rockits Caves for R830 online.... :hmmm:

[Megageth]

Are the RRRockits comfortable? I get earache from my current set after an hr or so where the pads pressure my lobes, dude.

[SlipperyDuck]

UBER comfy . . .
They cover your whole ear and rest on pseudo-soft-leather cups.

They insulate sound like the world ended, I have to turn MIC playback ON (even if it's playback @ 10%) or I feel like a deaf person from the insulation ...

ja they have pads all over and you're ears/neck/thirdleg WONT hurt after many hours of gameplay.

Best damn pair of Cans I've ever owned.

[Megageth]

:hmmm:

[flycatchr]

Sheesh, good timing, I am looking for a new headset. See these Rockits Caves for R830 online.... :hmmm:
link please, google is not my freind tonight :(

[Megageth]

http://www.ikonicit.co.za/index.php?target=products&product_id=3990

Dont be taking the last pair asseblief, Santa might be swervin through there on my behalf. ;)
You might be able to pick them and save time/$ on delivery, contact number is 011.

[flycatchr]

i need customers to pay first though, but the 788 number sounds close to me, let me know if i can collect for you? praps pass on to drags if he is up in town?